Editing Fillmore County, Minnesota (section)

==Geography==
Fillmore County is on Minnesota's border with [[Iowa]]. The [[Root River (Minnesota)|Root River]] drains the county, flowing eastward. The North Branch and the Middle Branch combine east of Shady Creek, while the South Branch meets their combined flow at Preston. Bear Creek drains the lower part of the county, discharging into the Root in the eastern part of the county. Willow Creek also drains a portion of the lower county, discharging into the Root at Preston. The [[Upper Iowa River]] flows eastward, mostly in adjoining Iowa counties, but briefly enters Fillmore County near the midpoint of its southern border.

The county's terrain consists of rolling hills, carved by gullies and drainages, with the available area dedicated to agriculture.<ref name="FCM">[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fillmore+County,+MN/@43.6745125,-92.3700837,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x87fa2731a3d9e3df:0x37c81635a68ae039!8m2!3d43.6956298!4d-92.0665197 ''Fillmore County MN''  Google Maps (accessed March 8, 2019)]</ref> The terrain slopes to the east; its highest point is on the lower western border, at {{convert|1,378|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Find an Altitude/Fillmore County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 8, 2019) |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |access-date=March 8, 2019}}</ref> The county has a total area of {{convert|862|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|861|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.8|sqmi}} (0.09%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060200/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |access-date=October 15, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

The county is part of the [[Driftless Area]] or Paleozoic plateau. This part of Minnesota was ice-free during the last [[Wisconsin glaciation|ice age]]. Fillmore County also displays a [[karst topography]].  [[File:Fillmore Co pie chart No Text Version.pdf|thumb|right|Soils of Fillmore County<ref>Nelson, Steven (2011). ''Savanna Soils of Minnesota.'' Minnesota: Self. pp. 43-48. {{ISBN|978-0-615-50320-2}}.</ref>]]

===Major highways===
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* [[Image:US 52.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 52 in Minnesota|U.S. Highway 52]]
* [[Image:US 63.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 63 in Minnesota|U.S. Highway 63]]
* [[Image:MN-16.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 16]]
* [[Image:MN-30.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 30]]
* [[Image:MN-43.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 43]]
* [[Image:MN-44.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 44]]
* [[Image:MN-56.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 56]]
* [[Image:MN-74.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 74]]
* [[Image:MN-80.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 80]]
* [[Image:MN-139.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 139]]
* [[Image:MN-250.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 250]]
* ''[[County roads in Fillmore County, Minnesota|List of county roads]]''
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===Adjacent counties===
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* [[Winona County, Minnesota|Winona County]] - northeast
* [[Houston County, Minnesota|Houston County]] - east
* [[Winneshiek County, Iowa]] - southeast
* [[Howard County, Iowa]] - southwest
* [[Mower County, Minnesota|Mower County]] - west
* [[Olmsted County, Minnesota|Olmsted County]] - northwest
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===Protected areas===
Source:<ref name=FCM/>

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* Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park
* Mystery Cave State Park
* Pin Oak Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
* Rushford Sand Barrens Scientific and Natural Area
* Wycoff Balsam Fir Scientific and Natural Area
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